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Annabeth Chase was not having a very good day. First her alarm didn’t go off, then there was a wreck on the highway, then the security line was overflowing. Despite all of this, she made it to her gate on time. And then, because her day wasn’t going badly enough, her flight got delayed. Her publicist just had to book this signing…Boarding the plane took another ten minutes, each tick of the clock making her later and later to her own event. You know, the one that can’t start without her? It seems her luck has improved somewhat as boarding ends and the seat next to her remains empty. Then, as if to prove her wrong, someone rushes onto the plane right before they close the gate. Annabeth is about to continue her self-pitying narrative about her terrible day and terrible luck when she actually looks at him. It’s a young guy, somewhere around her age, tall and lean with jet black hair. She accidentally makes eye contact and is startled to see his eyes are a sea-green color that she could have sworn only exists in books. He takes the seat next to her and they exchange an awkward greeting before he pulls out a book and starts reading. If Annabeth didn’t find him attractive before, she definitely did now. She can’t help sneaking a peak at the book to see if she’s read it before. The page he’s on seems familiar and it takes her longer than she would ever admit to realize it’s her own book.“Have you read this before?” Okay great so she wasn’t as subtle as she thought, and he noticed her reading over his shoulder. That’s not embarrassing at all.“I have, I really liked it.” She says, as if she didn’t write the book herself. He smiles at her anyways.“I haven’t even finished it yet and it’s already my favorite book.” That’s the best compliment her book has ever gotten. Forget New York Times, from now on she’s only accepting reviews from him.“What’s your favorite part so far?”He goes on to describe a scene where the main character and the love interest have a meaningful conversation interrupted by a battle leaving the main character unconscious with words left unsaid. It’s really romantic. And poetic and deep and meaningful and all that.“I just think it’s a really pivotal scene and it’s really profound, you know?” Annabeth is pretty proud of that considering that scene was written at three am after drinking approximately ten cups of coffee.“Hmm, yeah I agree with you. I think it shows how life is short and you need to take chances, or you might never get to say what you need to. That scene establishes that for the characters and brings them together in my opinion.” That’s what she intended to convey at least. The caffeine may or may not have helped her clarify that point. “You should keep reading, it only gets better.”They keep reading together for another hour or so in comfortable silence. It’s not until they really get into the climax that he speaks again.“She sacrificed herself. I don’t -- I mean, but why would she do that? Now she’s trapped with the bad guys and probably gonna die. Oh my god if she dies I’m going to have to have words with this author.” Annabeth can’t help but laugh at his rant.“The book isn’t over yet. But come on, think about the character growth! At the beginning they hated each other and now here they are sacrificing themselves for each other.”“I know, I know. Doesn’t mean I have to be happy about her being in danger now and him having to live with the guilt of her getting hurt for him.”“Yeah that’s valid,” she says with a laugh. They go back to reading, page after page going by as they soar through the clouds. They make it to the end, reading the final intense pages. Annabeth looks at the boy next to her to get his reaction and is shocked to see tears in his eyes. Seeing that reaction to her work firsthand is somehow baffling and insanely rewarding at the same time. This, she thinks, this is what I write for.“Do you think there will be a sequel?” he asks her, “I’m just not ready to say goodbye to this world forever. I’m not ready for this to be the end.” He turns to look at her and she fumbles for words. She never intended on writing a sequel, she’s not sure why, she just never had the drive to do it.“I’m not sure. I think the ending definitely left room for one.” And it did. She hadn’t realized it before, but there is the perfect opportunity to continue the story. She’ll have to talk to her publicist about it, but she thinks she could make it happen. She just has to get through the book signing first; the book signing she’s really starting to hope her seatmate is going to, if only so she can be around him longer. She should probably mention the fact that she’s the author of the book in his hand, but she has no idea how to go about it. “Surprise! I wrote the book we just read together!” Yeah, no. That would be awkward. Probably less awkward than going to the signing together only for her to get up on stage, but still. Odds are he isn't flying several hours to attend a book signing for a book he hadn't even finished reading when he boarded said flight. Right?Annabeth is lost in thoughts about the potential sequel, thinking of these characters who have fought so hard to get to where they are, who deserve to see the benefits of their perseverance and sacrifice. She’s so distracted that she doesn’t notice her seatmate flipping to the back inside cover of the book, specifically looking at the “meet the author” picture and bio that Annabeth forgot existed. The palpable tension in the air breaks Annabeth from her reverie and draws her attention back to the boy next to her. The expression on his face suggests a combination of shock, curiosity, and mortification. Seeing this, Annabeth looks back to the book in his hand to see what has caused this reaction, only to see her own face smiling back up at her.Well. She supposes his expression makes sense now. For all that she may be an author and words her specialty, she has none now. She feels a need to explain herself but at the same time a defensiveness born of awkward embarrassment makes her want to insist that this situation really isn’t her fault because it’s not like he asked. Really it’s his own fault…somehow. Maybe if she pretends to be oblivious to his discovery he won’t bring it up. Part of her knows that’s really too much to ask for, especially on a day like this. Her seatmate clears his throat to get her attention.“So, uhh correct me if I’m wrong, but this is you right?” He’s pointing at the profile picture displayed in the bio. Annabeth considers her options for a moment before simply answering yes.“I- I really have no words for this situation.” He pauses for a second before continuing. “I’m sorry but the only coherent thought I have is to ask you for real if you plan on writing a sequel or not because I’m so invested and I desperately need to know.” He says all of that in one breath which Annabeth can’t help but be a little impressed by. She huffs a laugh before answering honestly.“Funny enough, it honestly hadn’t crossed my mind until you brought it up, but now I can’t stop thinking about it. I don’t think their story is over yet, but I’m not sure what kind of timeline I’d be able to put out a sequel on.”“Fair enough. For what it’s worth, I’m sure I’m not the only one dying for more.” He hesitates for a moment before adding, “This is kind of embarrassing, but the opportunity is too good to pass up: would you be willing to sign my book?” Annabeth laughs before agreeing. She writes a personalized message (not including his name because honestly? She’s too far in to ask for it now and she has nothing if not her desire to avoid unnecessary awkwardness) then closes and hands the book back to him. Their hands brush as he takes it back and Annabeth could have sworn she felt an electric current pass between them at that simple contact. She’s spared from her thoughts as the pilot comes over the intercom to announce their descent. Briefly, she wonders where her seatmate is going. Is he returning home from a trip? Is he visiting family? Is there a girlfriend waiting to pick him up from the airport? That last thought causes an unwarranted flare of jealousy. Honestly, she barely knows him – doesn’t even know his name! – but she can’t help but hope there isn’t a significant other waiting for him at home.They make general small talk about the book while the plane descends before deplaning and walking to baggage claim. Annabeth is secretly pleased to find there’s no girlfriend waiting for him here. Before they go their separate ways, he turns to her and says, “It was an absolute pleasure meeting you, Annabeth Chase. I can’t wait to see what you do next,” with a lopsided grin. She smiles back before responding.“The pleasure was all mine. I’m glad you liked the book, it means a lot.” They smile at each other before reluctantly parting. After all, Annabeth has a signing to get to.***Percy is settling back into his apartment when he thinks to open the book to the front page and read the message she left him.“One story’s end simply allows for the beginning of a new one. Onto the next adventure?” – Annabeth ChaseUnderneath her signature lies her phone number.